Silhouetportret van Petrus Driessen 1808 - 1844

Carl Cristiaan Fuchs created this silhouette portrait of Petrus Driessen using etching, a printmaking technique that democratized image production. The magic of etching lies in its alchemical process. The artist covers a metal plate with a waxy, acid-resistant ground. They then draw through this ground, exposing the metal. When the plate is submerged in acid, the drawn lines are "bitten" into the surface. Ink is then applied, filling these etched lines. Finally, the plate is pressed onto paper, transferring the image. Notice the fine, controlled lines that define Driessen’s profile and clothing. This level of detail suggests a skilled hand, familiar with the subtle nuances of acid etching. The resulting print, a multiple, could be circulated and consumed far more easily than a unique painting. The etching process, with its blend of craft and chemistry, highlights the transformation of materials and labor into art, blurring the lines between industrial production and artistic creation.